Coin actuated switch



1937- c. G. JOHNSON COIN ACTUATED SWITCH Filed March 10, 1937 15 5 9 UL- am v0a J 0 1 I Q Patented Dec. 7, 1937 PATENT OFFICE COIN ACTUATED SWITCH Carl G. Johnson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to J. P.

Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 10,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a coin actuated switch, which may be actuated, for example, by a coin or token passing through a chute.

The improved switch is adapted for use with 5 merchandising devices, games, musical instruments and all coin-controlled mechanisms generally.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a switch of this type which is simple, effective and economical to make.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch which is constructed so that it has no tendency to vibrate and is, therefore, highly suitable for employment with coin-controlled automatic phonographs and the like where the noise of such vibration is particularly objectionable.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear view of a coin chute which has my improved switch mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of my switch with the cover removed, the associated coin chute being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through my improved switch, the section being taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on a larger scale, the section being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral Ill. indicates a coin chute which is suitably formed from a strip of metal, the sides of which are bent at right angles to the center and the outer edges of the sides being bent inwardly to provide a conduit which is partly open along its front face. The opening along the front face is insumcient to permit any coin to escape. This 40 chute is shown, by way of example, as a typical chute down which a coin may pass.

My improved switch comprises a base II and a cover l2 which form a housing. The base I I and cover I! may be molded from any suitable insulating material, for example, insulating material of a moldable plastic character. The base H may be mounted on the chute It by means of a metal strap l3 which is rigidly secured. to the rear of the chute l0, for example, by means of screws or by soldering. This strap l3 extends laterally beyond the chute l and the base II is secured on the projecting end by means of screws H. A portion of the chute I0 is cut away to provide a recess l5 so as to enable a light arm 1937, Serial No. 130,026

l8 to lie and operate in the path of the descending coin.

As shown in Fig. 2, the chute It may be somewhat wider than the coin l1 and coin-deflecting pins l8 may be mounted within the chute ad- 5 jacent the sides thereof so as to prevent the coin from descending very quickly. The end of the arm I 6 is bent transversely to provide an, end 19 which extends across the coin passage of the chute Ill. The arm I6 is normally held in the 10 full-line position shown in Fig. 2. It will readily be seen from this figure that the descending coin l'l moves the arm downwardly into dotted-line position and then passes down below the switch arm IS.

The arm I6 is rigidly carried in a block 20 of insulating material which is provided with trunnions 2| and 22. The trunnion 22 has a bearing in an opening in the base H. The trunnion 2| has a bearing in a strap 23 which is mounted by 20 means of a screw on a post 24 which is an integral formation of the base H. The post 24 is integral with a rib which comprises a block portion 25 and a second block portion 26, also integral with the base II. The block portion 25 is 25 provided with a threaded opening for the reception of a screw 21 whereby the cover I2 is mounted on the base H.-

The base II is provided with integral projections 28 adjacent the corners which are adapted g to engage the inside of the cover l2 and hold the same in registry with the base I I. Upon the block 26 are mounted switch blades 29 and 30, these blades being insulated in suitable manner by means of sheets of insulation 3|. The blade II, 5 which carriesa contact 32, is inherently biased towards the blade 29. but is normally prevented from moving into contact with that blade by means of an abutment 33 formed on the base H. The blade 29, which carries the contact 34 opposite the contact 32, is inherently biased away from the blade 30, as shown in full lines in Fig.

2. The block 20 has a flat side which is adapted to make contact with the face of the blade II which is remote from the blade 3!. When the 5 arm I6 is displaced from the full line into the dotted line position, as viewed in Fig. 2, by a coin passing down the chute I II, the block 2| is moved from its full line position into its dot and dash position and since this block extends downwardly away from its pivotal support the blade 25 is moved towards the right as viewed in that figure and the contact 34 is brought into engagement with the contact 32. After the coin has passed downwardly beyond the arm I, the resilience of the arm 29 hearing against the lowermost toe of the block 20 causes the block and arm IE to resume their full-line position shown in Fig. 2, in which condition the contact 34 is out of engagement with the contact 32. v

The blade 29 is connected to a terminal and the blade 30 is connected to a terminal 36. These terminals extend through the base II and the rear face of the base II is provided with an integral formation 31 for preventing short-circuiting contact between the terminals 35 and 36 by means of the conductors 38 which are secured thereto.

It will be understood that the switch may be employed for the purpose of completing a. circuit through the conductors 38 by means of the coin for the actuation of coin-freed mechanism.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specific details of a. preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A switch comprising a housing, provided with an opening, a pair of resilient blades mounted within said housing, one of said blades being resiliently biased away from the other, and the latter blade being biased towardsv the former,

an elongated block pivotally mounted within the housing and having an elongated face extending on both sides of the pivotal support of the block, the first said blade, in normal position, firmly abutting against said face owing to its bias, an abutment against which the second said blade bears, said abutment maintaining the second blade out of contact with the first blade when in its normal position, and an arm carried by said block adapted to swing the block to move the first blade into contact with the second, the 5 resilient bias of the first blade tending to move it away from the second blade and to return the block and arm to initial position.

2. In combination, a coin chute, having an arcuate opening at one side, a switch housing "l0 comprising a base and a cover of insulating material, said cover being provided with an opening," means mounting said base on said chute with last said opening adjacent said arcuate opening, a

pair of resilient blades mounted onsaid base, 15

terminals on saidbase connected to said blades. an elongated block of insulating material pivotally mounted within the housing and having an elongated face on both sides of its pivotal axis,

one of said blades being biased towards said 20 opening in the path of a coin passing through 30 the chute, whereby the block is oscillated by a passing coin and the first said blade is displaced into contact with the other blade, the first said blade effecting by its resilience the return of the block and arm to initial position.

CARL G. JOHNSON. 

